ATLAS TRANSLATES

Lu Jiaheng chose the restaurant, and they ended up having Japanese food. Three years ago, Gu Han might have still joked around, but now she was as quiet as a mouse. Having your roommate date the campus heartthrob from freshman to senior year – it wasn’t until near graduation that she understood what kind of experience that was. Gu Han felt a bit heartbroken.

After they sat down at the table, Lu Jiaheng went to take a phone call. As soon as he left, Gu Han’s resentful gaze fixed on Chu Zhi. Chu Zhi felt guilty and shrunk under her stare, obediently hanging her head and apologizing softly, “Don’t be angry, I was wrong.”

Gu Han looked at her sadly: “Don’t say anything, you never treated me as a friend.”

When the warm sake arrived at the table, Chu Zhi lifted it with both hands and passed it over, wearing a hopeful smile: “Boss Gu, let’s have a drink.”

Gu Han narrowed her eyes: “Shall we toast?”

No sooner said than done – Chu Zhi grabbed two small cups, poured one for each of them, and stood up. They leaned across the table toward each other. Chu Zhi’s arms were short, making it a bit difficult. As they got closer, their wrists crossed, and Chu Zhi felt slightly embarrassed.

Since Gu Han had been insisting on drinking with Lu Jiaheng, they’d spent the afternoon shopping and weren’t very hungry, so they simply chose an izakaya. The sake here had a sweet taste. After Chu Zhi finished drinking, she put down her small cup and smacked her lips, savoring the taste. It was her first time drinking sake, and she found it much better than beer. Beer was bitter, and the few times she’d had it, she only wanted to hiccup.

After three cups, Lu Jiaheng returned, bringing several pitchers of cold beer. Gu Han and Lin Tong were both the type to get livelier when drinking. After sharing a small pot of sake, she was in high spirits. She pushed a glass of beer in front of Lu Jiaheng and said seriously: “Senior, you’re not fair. Our precious Chu Zhi is such a gem, and you quietly snatched her away for several years without saying anything.”

Lu Jiaheng accepted the glass, his fingertips brushing against the condensation on the glass. Droplets rolled down. He smiled slightly and nodded: “It’s my fault, I deserve punishment. I’ll finish this glass first.”

Gu Han: “…” Lin Tong: “…” Xue Nian Nan: “…”

Gu Han felt she couldn’t salvage the situation. Her highest record was eight bottles of beer, and while she hadn’t completely blacked out, she was close. She thought she was quite impressive, but here was their senior about to down a whole pitcher at once – they clearly weren’t on the same level.

Chu Zhi held her glass of plum wine, poking at the ice cubes with her straw, watching with amusement as Lu Jiaheng gulped down the entire pitcher. He tilted his head back slightly, his neck forming a clean line, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Drops of condensation from the beer pitcher fell and flowed down his neck, winding their way down into his shirt collar.

Chu Zhi’s face felt a bit warm, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the few cups of sake she’d had earlier. She puffed out her cheeks and lowered her eyes, putting down her chopsticks and secretly rubbing her ears.

Lu Jiaheng finished his glass and casually pushed the empty pitcher to the side of the table. He calmly pulled another pitcher in front of him and looked up. Gu Han, showing great awareness of the situation, raised both hands in surrender: “Brother-in-law, I give up.”

By the time they left the izakaya, it was already night. Gu Han and Lin Tong were arm in arm, loudly singing the national anthem. Chu Zhi jumped up and down beside them, clapping and cheering, raising her arms like an orchestra conductor drawing triangles in the air. Only Xue Nian Nan was sober. She had called ahead, and her father came to pick them up. After coaxing and dragging the two girls into the car, Xue Nian Nan looked at Chu Zhi in Lu Jiaheng’s arms: “I leave Ah Zhi to you.”

Lu Jiaheng responded with a “mm” and watched her get into the car. After Mr. Xue’s car drove away, Lu Jiaheng looked down at the young woman in his arms. Chu Zhi was nestled obediently in his embrace, her little head drooping as she counted on her fingers while reciting the “Standards for Being a Good Student.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with drunkenness, mumbling indistinctly: “Warm in winter, cool in summer…” “Visit parents in morning, settle at night…” “What comes next, what was it…”

She rubbed her eyes, muttered something else, then amused herself and started giggling, her small shoulders shaking. Lu Jiaheng couldn’t help but smile, thinking she was quite well-behaved when drunk, just quietly entertaining herself. He raised his hand and pinched her little cheek: “Little drunkard.”

Chu Zhi tilted her head up. Her bright eyes looked at him, slightly red at the corners, her expression confused. He raised his hand and flicked her wrinkled nose: “Let’s go home.”

Since Lu Jiaheng had been drinking, he couldn’t drive, so they left the car there and took a taxi home. The night was brilliantly lit, and Lu Jiaheng sat with Chu Zhi in the back seat of the taxi. She curled up in his arms, fidgeting the whole time, muttering to herself and then giggling. Like a silly little thing.

The taxi’s air conditioning was very strong. Chu Zhi already felt like there was a fire burning inside her body, and now she felt even hotter. After sitting for a while, she started tugging at her jacket restlessly. Lu Jiaheng held onto her jacket, not letting her move, holding her tightly in his arms. Chu Zhi felt extremely uncomfortable, wiggling around like a little mud eel, trying to escape his restraint. When she couldn’t, she pouted unhappily and looked up at him.

Lu Jiaheng looked down, tightening his arms around her, deliberately lowering his voice: “Be good, or I won’t want you anymore.”

Chu Zhi’s previously unhappy expression, with her big eyes staring at him, turned blank for about ten seconds upon hearing this, then became dejected. She looked up at him pitifully, her rosy lips trembling, her eyes growing wet, and in the next second, crystal tears welled up: “Lu Jiaheng…”

Lu Jiaheng’s heart melted completely. Chu Zhi called out to him so pitifully, and with one blink, tears rolled down. She cried while babbling: “I’ll teach you the Standards for Being a Good Student, don’t not want me…”

“…” Lu Jiaheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He sighed, raised his hand, and gently wiped away her tears with his knuckle, pulling her onto his lap and holding her: “I was just teasing you. I want you, I want you, my little Chu Chu is so good.”

Chu Zhi blinked her eyes, turned her head to nuzzle his palm affectionately, then wrapped her arms around his neck. After rubbing her head against his chest for a while, she looked up again, her reddened eyes staring straight at him. The light from street lamps and car lights outside reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle brilliantly.

Lu Jiaheng pressed his lips together as they stared at each other, neither moving. She suddenly pressed down with her arms around his neck, pulling him downward as she sat on his lap, stretching upward, straining her little neck to kiss his lips. Lu Jiaheng was caught off guard, startled by her action.

Her lips were burning hot, her breath carrying the scent of alcohol as she clumsily held his lower lip, her soft little tongue moving about without any technique. Lu Jiaheng turned his head, one hand holding her shoulder, pulling back slightly to create some distance. As their lips parted, her tongue was still sticking out slightly, glistening.

Chu Zhi looked at him in confusion. In the taxi, the driver’s gaze occasionally flicked to the rearview mirror. Lu Jiaheng looked coldly at him through the mirror. The driver quickly averted his eyes.

Lu Jiaheng raised his hand, pressing her head against his shoulder: “Rest for a bit, we’re almost home.”

“I don’t want to.” Chu Zhi mumbled, unhappily straining her neck to struggle with him, trying to lift her head. He was stronger, and despite her great effort, she remained firmly pressed down. Chu Zhi was almost furious, and with an “ow,” she bit down on the side of his neck, refusing to let go.

Lu Jiaheng hissed, stroked her hair, and said softly: “Chu Chu, don’t bite, it hurts.”

Chu Zhi, like a little puppy, seemed to hear him. She slowly and reluctantly released her bite, and two seconds later, her warm, soft tongue touched where she had bitten, soothingly licking over it bit by bit.

Lu Jiaheng tensed up suddenly, his fingers tightening where they held the back of her head. Her dark head nestled against his neck, restlessly moving as she traced kisses upward along his neck, jaw, and the skin behind his ear. She would pause occasionally to murmur softly in his ear, giggling sweetly before returning to her gentle attentions.

Lu Jiaheng kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, doing his best to maintain steady breathing. The less-than-hour car ride felt like it lasted a century.

When the taxi stopped, Lu Jiaheng pulled out his wallet and handed over some cash without waiting for change. He helped her out of the car.

The night air was cool. She shivered slightly and looked up at him. He led her to the elevator. She stayed close as they ascended, her face near his as she sought his attention like an eager baby bird.

He exhaled heavily. The elevator dinged and the doors slowly opened. Lu Jiaheng fumbled for his keys one-handed and got them inside.

The door closed behind them with a bang, followed by a muffled thud. Lu Jiaheng kept one hand protectively behind her back against the door. Her slow, gentle demeanor on the ride over had tested his patience severely.

Her coat had already fallen to the ground. Lu Jiaheng carried her into the house, heading towards the bedroom. Clothes rustled and dropped along the way.

Lu Jiaheng bent down, kneeling on one knee by the bed, and placed her on the soft mattress. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow. She lay confused, looking at him with damp, reddened eyes.

He lowered his head to kiss her, his breath unsteady. She trembled, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, holding him close. She murmured his name repeatedly through tears, “Lu Jiaheng…”

“I’m here…” he responded hoarsely.

She cried out in distress, gripping his shoulders. “It hurts… Lu Jiaheng… it hurts…”

Lu Jiaheng pressed his forehead against hers, kissing away her tears. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, his jaw clenched tight. Each time she called his name, it pulled at his heart, tightening slowly, inch by inch.